2016 GLUGS THEATRE AWARDS

Sydney theatre group THE GLUGS - now celebrating their 50^th year presented the 2016 GLUGS Theatre Awards at a ceremony on Monday 6 February 2017 at The Castlereagh Hotel in Sydney.

Big winner on the evening was the Bell Shakespeare / Griffin Theatre Company co-production of The Literati, with a total of five awards.

In 1966 a group of theatre-lovers – critics, journalists, actors and theatre-goers – met occasionally for lunch. Among them famous theatre critic Norman Kessell, JCW’s PR man John Love, and ABC producer Allan Kendall. The group invited international and local theatre guests who spoke about the profession over lunch and a glass of wine.

By 1969 it was decided the group should have a name. British actor Barry Morse was in Sydney following his Broadway stint and Australian tour of Hadrian the Seventh. He was presented a gift from the group - C.J.Dennis’s tongue-in-cheek poems The Glugs of Gosh. Barry urged the group to continue luncheons as a regular event to help other overseas performers feel at home just like he did, and with a wave of his hand he ceremoniously declared ‘‘I hereby christen you – The Glugs’’.

THE GLUGS continues with luncheons on the first Monday of every month at The Castlereagh Hotel, and applauds the best of every year’s Sydney theatre with their annual awards. New members are always welcome.

2016 GLUG AWARDS WINNERS

The Norman Kessell Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

John Howard - All My Sons - Sydney Theatre Company

The Norman Kessell Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Caroline Brazier - The Literati - Griffin Theatre Company & Bell Shakespeare

The Jeffrey Joynton Smith Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Jamie Oxenbould - The Literati - Griffin Theatre Company & Bell Shakespeare

The Jeffrey Joynton Smith Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Ana Maria Belo -  Tribes - Ensemble Theatre

The Colleen Clifford Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical

David Campbell - Dream Lover - Gilbert Theatricals  & John Frost

The Colleen Clifford Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Musical

Anna O’Byrne - My Fair Lady - Opera Australia & John Frost

The Colleen Clifford Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Reg Livermore - My Fair Lady - Opera Australia & John Frost

The Colleen Clifford Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

Marney McQueen - Dream Lover - Gilbert Theatricals & John Frost

The Stuart Wagstaff Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Direction

Lee Lewis - The Literati - Griffin Theatre Company & Bell Shakespeare

Award for the Most Outstanding Main Stage Musical

Aladdin - Disney Productions

Award for the Most Outstanding Independent Musical

Side Show - Dir: Richard Carroll - One Eyed Man Prod. in assoc. with Hayes Theatre

The John West Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding New Australian Performed Work

The Literati - By Justin Fleming after Moliere’s Les Femmes

The Micki and Robert Davis Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Main Stage Production

The Literati - Dir: Lee Lewis - Griffin Theatre Company & Bell Shakespeare

The Taffy Davies Memorial Award for the Most Outstanding Independent Production

Look Back in Anger - Dir: Lizzie Schebesta - Red Line Productions & Damien Ryan

Award for the Most Outstanding Performance by a Newcomer

Ainsley Melham - Aladdin - Disney Productions

Award for the Most Outstanding Production for Children (Ages 3 to 11 years)

The Peasant Prince - Dir: Tim McGarry - Monkey Baa Theatre Co

Award for the Most Outstanding Production for Teenagers (Ages 12+ years)

The Big Dry - Dir: Fraser Corfield - Ensemble Theatre & Aust. Theatre for Young People

The Lee Young Award for the Most Outstanding Cabaret Performance

Trevor Ashley - Liza’s Back! (is Broken) - Snowqueen in assoc. with Hayes Theatre Co.

The Don Reid Memorial Award for Young Performer on the Way

Elijah Williams - Antigone - Sport for Jove

The Hayes Gordon Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre

Australian Theatre for Young People

The Rodney Seaborn Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement

Jacki Weaver 

Image: Jamie Oxenbould and Caroline Brazier in The Literati. Photographer: Daniel Boud.